Download a 2016 Conference evaluation form

2016 Conference

LLL of Maine and New Hampshire invites you to "Now and Tomorrow,"
the Annual Breastfeeding and Parenting Conference.
Saturday, November 12, Sea Road School, 29 Sea Rd., Kennebunk, ME 04043
More information is available at the link below, and you are also welcome to connect to our event on Facebook.
You may also download a PDF of the conference brochure.
For more information, CLICK HERE 

​Online registration has now closed.
Walk-in registration will be available (session choices may be limited).

REGISTRATION FEES:
Non LLL member $60 ($65 for walk-in)
LLL member with current membership $55 ($60 for walk-in)
LLL Leader, Leader Applicant, or retired Leader $50 ($55 for walk-in)
Second adult (spouse, partner, or grandparent) attending sessions $10
(No charge for spouse, partner, or caregiver not attending sessions) 
REGISTRATION DISCOUNTS:
First-time LLL conference attendee: $20
Area Council/Conference Committee member: $20
Volunteers (day of conference task): $5
Speaker: $10 (per session)
CERPS Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) for lactation consultants have been applied for from the Alliance for Breastfeeding Education division of LLLI through a providership with the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. CERPs will be charged $10 per session up to 3 sessions; for attendees wishing to take all four CERP sessions, the 4th will be free. (Maximum charge will be $30.)

Conference Sessions 1 & 2

Session 1: 9:00 - 10:15 a.m. 
101 - Risky Behaviors and Breastfeeding
*CERPs have been applied for
Sometimes breastfeeding parents choose ‘risky’ behaviors, such as informal milk sharing, use of alcohol, medications, or street drugs. A parent may disclose STD/STIs, including HIV, or the mental health status of themselves or a loved one. Discussion will include general information of these risky behaviors in relation to breastfeeding, and how to navigate these difficult topics when they arise.
Traci Meiler, LLL Leader, IBCLC
102-60 Years of Parenting
Times have changed, though babies and children haven't. A look at parenting trends and how our view of our young children has changed since the beginning of La Leche League.
Diane Thompson
103-Weaning Ways
Explore the joys and sadness of weaning. Discuss how to deal with negative feelings, when mother, baby, and family are really ready to wean and tips for weaning.
Katja Leccisi
104-You Know You Make Me Want To Shout
Anger: a wasted emotion? Actually, it's one of the most misunderstood emotions.  Come to this session for a different perspective on your anger.  Learn to listen more closely to the messages about justice, fairness, protection, and courage that inspire it.  Discover new ways to speak for anger (without the shouting).  This session will introduce new ways to help our partners and our children manage their angry feelings.  We'll also address ways to repair relationships when anger takes over.
Julie Allen, LLL Leader, LCPC

Session 2: 10:30 -11:45 a.m.
201-Gadgets and Gizmos
*CERPs have been applied for
A discussion of a variety of breastfeeding tools and how to manage the various devices and work toward long-term breastfeeding success.
Yvonne Maalouf, LLL Leader, IBCLC
202-Future Leaders
New ways of communicating, new interpretations of prerequisites and concepts, and new Leaders make Leader Accreditation a dynamic process! This session is for all Leaders who want to understand more about helping women become Leaders, for current Applicants, and for those who might be interested in leadership.
Allison Eddyblouin and Melanie Kollman
203-The Goober Dad's Toolkit: Helping Your Child Meet Developmental Milestones Through Play
In this session parents will get an overview of the seven (yes, seven) senses and learn the importance of challenging your baby with a variety of different sensory and play opportunities in order to meet developmental milestones.  Expect to come away from this session with a list of fun ideas to try with your whole family.
Brian C. Walsh, MOT, OTR/L
204-Nighttime Breastfeeding
This session will help parents sort out the facts and fictions of bedsharing and SIDS, learn about normal sleep at every age and stage, from newborn to new parent, and help you direct your baby toward longer sleep when he’s ready. Learn how to  tailor your approach to your baby’s temperament, and discuss the hidden costs of sleep training and “cry it out” techniques.
Jessica McNeil
205-Parenting Teens - Normal or Needs Attention?
What is normal angst and what requires mental health treatment/family support?  We will explore parenting strategies and factors that affect the family structure.
Katy Sparda-Cloutier, LMSW-CC

Conference Sessions 3 & 4

Session 3: 1:30 - 2:45 p.m. 
301-Birth: Giving Breastfeeding the Optimal Start
*CERPs have been applied for
Learn about the different experiences that a woman may encounter, either desired or unforeseen, that synthesize her birth, the effect that each of these have on breastfeeding success, and identify post-birth choices that can help improve breastfeeding success after delivery.
Abigail Masterman, DO
302-Diversity and Inclusion: Reaching Out and Opening Doors
Come hear about and discuss various strategies for welcoming, supporting, and building relationships with breastfeeding families regardless of race, ethnicity, creed, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, family structure, primary language, ability, or socio-economic status.
Kate Pennington
303-Life Your Way
Work/life balance is an over-used term that isn’t possible — unless we know what work/life balance really means.  This session highlights how we cause stress by aspiring to false definitions of work/life balance.  Participants learn what work/life balance really is, how to achieve it, and, most importantly, how to sustain it for greater productivity and satisfaction.
Amy Wood, PsyD
304-Preschoolers Are People, Too
Letting your two to five-year-old have the freedom to experiment and discover their world, and how to enjoy them as individuals.
Kristen Walsh
305-Schooling Options
Public, Private, Charter, Alternative, Curriculum-based Homeschooling, Unschooling. Explore your schooling options and gain some personal insight to the pros and cons of the different educational choices for your family.  Bring your questions.  A panel presentation followed by discussion.
Zadiah Eisenberg, Jennifer Hewson, Alyson Hobbs, Sarah Russell, and Amy Wentworth

​Session 4: 3:00 - 4:15 p.m.
401-Lactation News You Can Use  
*CERPs have been applied for
Explore recently published lactation research. Special focus will be placed on maternal mental health, cancer, obesity, allergies, feeding cues, environmental contaminants, cultural impacts, IQ, and working mothers.
Traci Meiler, LLL Leader, IBCLC 
Wendy Beals, LLL Leader, IBCLC
Jennifer Hewson
402-Communication Across the Generations
How devices, social media, and fast-paced communications have and have not changed how we can best connect with friends and family.
Kathy Drury
403-Small Spaces and Small People
Small families often live in limited spaces, while desiring to have fresh veggies for everyone's enjoyment. Container gardening can be a pleasure for preschoolers.  A way to participate, engage, and have real power in their world.  
Karen Veit
404-Keeping the ME in MomME
When your life detours into motherhood, how in the world do you take care of yourself?  Come to this session for a light-hearted look at creative strategies different mothers use to care for themselves while raising tiny, fragile, and needy human beings.  (Self-care is an imperfect science and embarrassing, bumbling failures will also be shared.)
Julie Allen, LLL Leader, LCPC
Crystal Berg, Estée Cuddihy

Happy mothers, breastfed babies.